βucharest Urban League of photographers for the Balkans

After the 1974 invasion, a bunch of Greek Cypriots, residents of the wider Karpass area, decided not to leave but stayed in their homes under the Turkish army. Despite the army's pressure to flee their homes, they remained, showing untold patience and under permanent fear. 43 whole years after they continue to peacefully defend their home land, waiting for the solution to the Cypriot dispute. When the checkpointss have opened in 2003 I visited them in the village of Rizokarpaso. Fear and distress were not a surprise to me, I felt strongly that time stopped at 1974 and I was travelling in time. (Andreas Vassiliou)